World Day Against the Death Penalty: Annual Report on Execution in Iran 2021-2022

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)- On the World Day against the Death Penalty, the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) has published its annual report in an effort to sensitize the public about the death penalty situation in Iran, particularly thousands of death-row convicts awaiting their looming executions.

HRA’s Statistics Center relies on the work of HRANA reporters, as well as a network of independent and verifiable sources. It also incorporates the judicial authorities’ announcements or confirmations of prisoner executions on media, and as such, is exposed to a margin of error representing efforts by the Iranian authorities to omit, conceal, or restrict the collection of such data.

Between October 10, 2021, and October 7, 2022, at least 528 convicts were executed by hanging in Iran, rising to 98% compared to the same period last year. Of these executions, one was carried out in public. Many of the defendants were denied a fair trial and due process.

Click here to download report in PDF format

HRANA obtained 439 reports regarding executions and death penalty in Iran during this period. The identified executed individuals, include 20 women and 6 juvenile offenders under the age of 18 at the time of alleged crime. Compared to the last period, the execution of female offenders has raised 55%.

According to the reports obtained by HRANA, over this period, Iranian authorities sentenced at least 89 defendants to death penalty, including at least 5 women, and 7 public executions.  Issuing death sentence decreased by 1% compared to the last year.

As the chart below shows a breakdown of executions by capital offense: 50.38% were charged with murder, 41.29% with drug and narcotic offenses, 3.03% with rape, 1.70% with non-political armed robbery/offenses classified as “corruption on earth,” and 0.38% with political or security-related offenses. Moreover, 0.38% were convicted of security charges (spying, terror, and bombing), 0.38% were convicted of armed robbery, and 2.46% of charges are unknown.

The pie chart below displays execution numbers by the province in which they took place. According to this chart, the Sistan and Baluchestan Province had the highest number of executions at 16%. Alborz (where three overcrowded prisons are located) and Fars Provinces come second and third, with 16.48% and 11.93%, respectively.

The chart below depicts the distribution of executions’ information sources. The chart indicates that 70% of HRANA-confirmed executions were not announced by the official Iranian sources. Undisclosed executions are referred to as “secret” executions.

 

The chart above shows the execution numbers by gender.

The pie chart below displays execution numbers by the prison where the executions were carried out. The Rajai-Shahr Prison officials have carried out the highest number of executions with 14.42%. Zahedan Prison ranks second with 12,33% executions.

The chart below displays percentage of executions carried out in public Vs. the number of executions that were carried out in prison. According to statistics, 0.19% of the executions in Iran were carried out in public.

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Click here to download the report in PDF format.

For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, Senior Advocacy Coordinator Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at [email protected]

At Least Eight Inmates Executed this week in Multiple Prisons, Including Qom, Kermanshah and Isfahan

This week, at least eight inmates were executed in multiple prisons, including Qom, Kermanshah and Isfahan.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Iran Human Rights, two inmates were executed in Kermanshah Prison on Monday, October 11, four inmates were executed in Isfahan on Tuesday, and two others were executed in Qom Prison on Wednesday.

Two inmates who had been convicted of murder were executed in Diezl-Abad Prison in Kermanshah on Monday, October 11. One of the inmates has been identified as 23-year-old Muhammad Latifi. The report suggests that it is likely more inmates were executed on that day than have been confirmed.

Iran Human Rights also has reported the execution of four inmates in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. These inmates had been convicted for drug-related crimes.

In another report, on Wednesday, October 13, two inmates, convicted of murder, were executed in Qom Central Prison. One of the inmates has been identified as Ali Amrollahi, a native of Afghanistan. He has been imprisoned since four years ago when he was convicted of “honor killing”.

The most recent report of the Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) states that between October 8 of 2020 and October 9 of 2021, at least 266 citizens were executed and 90 citizens were sentenced to death.

As the report points out, Iran’s judicial authorities do not publicly announce over 82% of carried-out executions, dubbed as “secret executions” by human rights organizations.

None of these executions have been announced by official sources in Iran as of this writing.

 

World Day Against the Death Penalty: Annual Report on Execution in Iran 2020-2021

On the World Day Against the Death Penalty, the Center of Statistics of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI) has published its annual report , in efforts to sensitize the public about the situation of the death penalty in Iran.

HRANA’s Statistics Center relies on the work of HRANA reporters, as well as a network of independent and verifiable sources. It also incorporates disclosures to the media by judicial authorities announcing or confirming prisoner executions, and as such is exposed to a margin of error representing efforts by the Iranian authorities to omit, conceal, or restrict the collection of such data.

Between October 8, 2020, and October 9, 2021, executions and the death penalty have been the focus of 253 HRANA reports. Over this time period, the Iranian authorities issued the death penalty sentence to 90 individuals and have already carried out 266 executions.

Click here to download report in PDF format

Women account for only 9 of the 266 HRANA-confirmed execution victims this year. In addition, 3 juvenile offenders, under the age of 18 when they allegedly committed the crime they were charged with, were executed.

The report includes a breakdown of executions by capital offense: 55.8% were charged with murder, 33.5% were charged with drug and narcotic offenses, 3.4% were charged with Rape, 4.8% were charged with armed robbery/offenses classified as “corruption on earth”, 1.5% were charged with political or security-related offenses, and 0.74% had unknown charges.

The chart below displays execution numbers by the province in which they took place. According to this chart, Khorasan Razavi had the highest number of executions at 17.7%.  Alborz and Sistan and Baluchestan came in second and third, with 13.2% and 9.4% respectively.

The chart below depicts the distribution of executions’ information sources. The chart indicates that 82% of HRANA-confirmed executions were not announced by the official Iranian sources. Undisclosed executions are referred to as “secret” executions.

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Click here to download the report in PDF format.

For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, Senior Advocacy Coordinator Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at skylar@hramail.com

Six Afghans Sentenced to Death in Tehran

Six men were recently sentenced to death on charges of rape by Branch 7 of the First Criminal Court in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, these men are citizens of Afghanistan.

In addition to the death penalty, two men were sentenced to seven years in prison for stealing the victim’s cell phone.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence Issued in Yazd

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Tasnim, the Supreme Court recently upheld the death sentence issued in Yazd.

Gholam-Ali Dehshiri, the Chief Justice of Yazd Province, announced a death sentence of a person who was “fortune-teller” on a charge of “corruption”, and said that this sentence had recently been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

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Inmate Executed in Vakilabad Prison on Charge of Murder

At dawn on Sunday, September 5, a prisoner named Karamat who had previously been sentenced to death for murder was executed in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.

According to  HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, the sentence was upheld by Branch 31 of the Supreme Court.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death. According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Citizen Executed in Esfarayen City on Charge of Murder

The death sentence of a prisoner who had previously been sentenced to death for murder was recently carried out in Esfarayen City.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ISNA, the prisoner had been sentenced to flogging and imprisonment in addition to the death sentence.

Regarding this case, Nader Nejad Aghdash, the Public Prosecutor of Esfarayen said, “After receiving the news of the disappearance of a 31-year-old woman in March 2018, a judicial case was filed and after a few days, the accused in this case was identified and arrested. The defendant confessed to the crime after his arrest”

Nejad Aghdash added, “Based on the available evidence, the most likely motive behind murder was the theft of the victim’s gold and jewelry. More so, after committing the crime, the accused mutilated and burned the body in order to get rid of the evidence.”

“After completing the various stages of the trial,” Nejad Aghdash added, “according to the lawsuit issued by the First Branch of the Criminal Court of North Khorasan Province, the accused was sentenced to death. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison and 74 lashes for aggravated robbery, and 74 lashes for cutting off both legs and burning a corpse. ”

The initial verdict was upheld in Branch 13 of the Supreme Court and the death sentence was carried out.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed.

One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

The report does not mention the identity of the prisoner or the exact location and date of the execution.

Death Sentences Issued to Two Men in Tehran

Two death sentences were recently issued to male defendants in Tehran.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Shargh newspaper, a defendant named Farid was sentenced to death by the Second Branch of the Criminal Court of a Tehran province for the murder of his colleague.

Another defendant was sentenced to death by a criminal court in Tehran province for the murder of his aunt.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

Death Sentences Issued to Defendant in Mashhad

A defendant was sentenced to two death sentences by the Fifth Branch of the Criminal Court of Khorasan Razavi Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting the Khorasan newspaper, the defendant was sentenced on a charge of double homicide.

According to this report, the convicted is a 45-year-old man named Mahdi who, with the help of his friends, killed two people with a firearm.

The Court of Khorasan Razavi sentenced the other defendants to imprisonment and deportation on charges such as assisting in murder and carrying and keeping weapons.

The verdicts issued by the court can still be appealed in the Supreme Court.

Inmates Babak Aslani and Mohsen Isfahani Executed in Urmia Prison

On Sunday, July 18, two prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death for murder were executed in Urmia Prison in West Azerbaijan Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the prisoners have been identified as Babak Aslani and Mohsen Isfahani.

Iran ranks first in the world in citizen executions per capita, according to international organizations. The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) reported that between January 1 and December 20 of 2020, at least 236 citizens were executed. One of these citizens was executed publicly, and two were juvenile offenders. An additional 95 citizens were sentenced to death.

According to the same report, more than 72% of executions in Iran are not reported by the government or the judiciary, which human rights organizations call “secret” executions.

The execution of Aslani and Isfahani has not been announced by Iranian media or official sources as of this writing.